Occupation: Investigative journalist, editor at Al-Qahira Chronicle

Hook: Publishing exposes on “black budgets” and disappearances; unknowingly writing about Kindred and mages.

22. Dr. Huda Kamel

Occupation: Archaeologist and television personality

Hook: The Cult sponsors her digs; she thinks she’s uncovering a new dynasty.

23. Farid Salem

Occupation: Intelligence officer in the Egyptian Interior Ministry

Hook: Paid by Nabih’s agents to suppress “occult terrorism”; terrified of the truth.

24. Marwa Zidan

Occupation: Street artist and revolutionary

Hook: Her graffiti contains subconscious magical sigils — possibly an Awakened soul waiting to emerge.

25. Rashid Halim

Occupation: Samira’s mortal cousin, protest leader

Hook: He doesn’t know his cousin is undead. His movement often intersects with supernatural schemes.

26. Hassan Khalil

Occupation: Antiquities smuggler

Hook: Deals in blood-soaked relics from the Tomb of Imaset. Sometimes sells to mages or vampires without understanding their power.

27. Noor Farouk

Occupation: Museum archivist

Hook: Secretly a ghoul to Aisha Khouri. Keeps records of all relics “lost” to the Cult.

28. Karim al-Najjar

Occupation: Night guard at the Citadel of Shadows

Hook: A mortal who knows too much — writes anonymous blog posts about “the vampires of Cairo.”

29. Sahar Dawoud

Occupation: Radio host, “Voices of the Nile”

Hook: Unknowingly broadcasting the Cult’s activation frequencies during nightly shows.

30. Captain Nasr Hamadi

Occupation: Police commander

Hook: Accepts bribes from both vampires and the Cult. Torn between duty and the power he’s tasted.